L.P.Berkett, IPM Specialist

Just a quick note to let you know that we will be posting reports of bud

stage development on the UVM Apple Orchard website at:

http://orchard.uvm.edu/

Also, we are posting estimated DD Base 50 for selected sites around the

state and have a chart of when certain pest events are predicted to occur.

The website is:

http://orchard.uvm.edu/uvmapple/pest/insects/1999DDAccumulationforArthropods

.html

(or you can get to it from the UVM Apple Orchard homepage)

This year, we are supporting the running of Skybit data from 5 sites

(including Walpole, NH) through UMaine's 'Orchard Radar' which will give

estimates of ascospore maturity and many other pest event estimates. Glen

Koehler of Maine assures me that this will be up and running in a few days.

He uses Green Tip as the biofix and, so far, only one of the monitored

sites have reached GT.

Regarding apple scab ascospore maturity, reports from NY and MA indicate

that maturity seems to be in line with what might be expected with bud

stage development. The report I received from MA yesterday indicated they

had 1%-5% mature spores that were ready to be released. Note: 1-5% of a

large amount of overwintering inoculum is significant. Given the lack

of green tissue around the state, the predicted rains this weekend should

pose minimal risk. However, if you are in the southern part of the state

and your bud development is farther along, you should be ready to protect